I’ve always had thick, coarse eyebrows that are impossible to tame.
They’re much darker than my hair colour, grow at the rate of knots and splay out in all directions – meaning my next eyebrow wax can never come soon enough.
Not only do I have a lot of brow hair, but the the individual hairs themselves are very thick, meaning that most products fail to hold my brows in place without looking sticky or wet.
Beauty journalist Mia Lyndon has thick, full brows but these products work wondersCredit: Maybelline, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Essence, Merit
I’m a fan of fluffy, natural-looking brows, so have never liked using stiff, heavy formulas that superglue your brows in place.
However, alongside all my faves, there’s recently been a number of exciting new brow launches which really live up to their hype.
These are the formulas that sculpt my brows and won’t budge all day – and none of them cost the earth.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel
This formula freezes brows into positionCredit: Supplied
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel, £13 from Cult Beauty – BUY NOW
Despite having just launched, this brow gel has already shot to social media stardom.
The hybrid formula (a combination of gel for precision and wax for the ulimate hold) promises to freeze your brows into place.
It’s designed to give your brows a laminated look, so I was sceptical at first – my brows are so long that laminating them into place would mean they’d stick halfway up my forehead.
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However, I’ve been very pleasantly surprised, and have gone back to it again and again.
This brow gel has been raved about on social mediaCredit: Anastasia
This formula is so easy to apply, thanks to it’s multi-faceted applicator wand, which includes a fine-tooth comb for precision and a flat paddle side for achieving your desired shape.
I love the precision edge – and pretty much only ever use this part of the wand – as it does a great job of combing my brows into shape, taming even my most wiry, unkempt hairs.
The formula is also really quick to use – one stroke sweeps your brows into place, and two strokes will glue them into a laminated look. Needless to say, I just use one stroke, as this keeps my brows looking fluffy.
Maybelline Build-A-Brow
Mia tried shade “Ash Brown”Credit: Supplied
My brows are in no need of ‘building’, but I still really rate this product.
Despite having full brows, I still have some sparse areas at the front that benefit from adding extra density.
Thanks to it’s dual ended wand – featuring a brow pen and a clear gel – this space-saving product feaures everything you need to both shape and add density to your brows.
The dual-ended tool is perfect for handbagsCredit: Maybelline
Maybelline Build-A-Brow Pencil and Gel, £11.99 from LookFantastic – BUY NOW
The brow pen end has a soft, felt-like tip that provides a constant flow of liner, without the need to shake it or press too hard. Each stroke is effortless to draw – and building up density is a breeze – but its does mean that you’ll need a steady hand.
I’m also a big fan of the gel, as it’s lightweight and non-sticky – meaning it won’t leave you with crusty, dandruff brows. After applying the gel, I usually go back in with the liner to add extra density to the areas I’ve previously missed.
Essence Brow Lifting Gel Set
This formula won’t budge all dayCredit: Supplied
I’ll be honest – whilst this product won’t change your life, it’s well worth the (very small) investment of £3.99.
After using this product, my brows do not move. Come rain, shine, sweat or tears, you can put this formula through the elements and your brows still won’t budge.
This hardworking formula resembles royal jelly in its consistency. You can either apply it directly to your brows using fingers, or using the provided spoolie – which is my method of choice.
The spoolie is very small, meaning it can only be held between two fingers, which makes application fiddly and awkward – so, if you haven’t already got one, I’d definitely recomend investing in a full-size spoolie.
This bargain buy is well worth the investmentCredit: Essence
Essence Brow Lifting Gel Set, £3.99 from Essence – BUY NOW
My thick brow hairs are quite heavy, meaning most products (especally budget options) fail to lift them. However, my brows are no match for this product, as the formula lifted even my longest brow hairs in seconds.
However, during application, you do have to be mindful of applying too much product, as this can leave stickiness and a white residue. I’d also recommend that you spend a moment teasing your brows into your desired shape.
Like most longwear products, removing this gel isn’t easy but micellar water and a bit of patience does the trick for me.
Merit Brow 1980 Pomade
Mia tried shade “Black-Brown”Credit: Supplied
This product does it all. I love Merit’s brow pomade for its fool-proof formula, instant lift and flattering tint.
I always thought that the last thing my brows needed was a colour tint, but this formula adds density to my brows without making them appear overly dark.
Each time I sweep this product through my brows, I can rest assured that it’s without any clumping, weigh-down or stickiness.
This pomade is lightweight and flatteringCredit: Merit
Merit Brow 1980 Pomade, £26 from Merit Beauty – BUY NOW
Despite looking like a mascara – which tend to have drier, stiffer formulas – this pomade has a lightweight, gel-like texture, which makes achieveing your desired shape a breeze.
The spoolie applicator is very small and unassuming, but always does a great job of distrubing equal amounts of product onto my brows.
However, if you are prone to oily skin like me, be mindful of product transfer onto your forehead and brow bone. But here’s a top tip: sweeping translucent powder over these areas will stop this happening.